Do You Love Jesus?

Returning to the Evangeline Booth College as a second-year cadet following summer assignment, we had a new principal, Lt. Colonel Allan Hofer. He interviewed each cadet to get to know us better. I remember the tension I felt as I stared across the table when my turn came. He asked his first question with an intensity only enhanced by his accent: “Josh, do you love Jesus?”

Fortunately, I was prepared for this question. “Of course I love Jesus,” I replied. While I was a teenager, Hofer was my corps officer, frequently peppering this question into our conversations. It has always been at the heart of his ministry; a heart in love with Jesus is paramount. Unfortunately, one of my session mates was caught off-guard by the inquiry. “Do you know the new principal questioned if I even love Jesus?” Lt. Colonel Hofer often repeated his question from the pulpit, in the hallways, and in our exit interviews, because he wanted us to capture the significance.

The words “Do you love Jesus,” have echoed in my heart many times over the years, whether in thinking through strategy to carry out the mission in my corps or while training cadets. Love for Jesus must be primary. It cannot be faked. It carries through all situations and informs all decisions. Our passion for Christ serves as the catalyst for all the work we do in his name. If we want to live out sharing the gospel of Jesus and meeting human needs, we must begin at the beginning: devotion and adoration for the one that saves us.

Recently, I came across a quote from Tim Dearborn that captured this sentiment but challenged me to look at things differently. In his book “Beyond Duty,” he says, “Lack of interest in missions is not remedied by more shocking statistics, more gruesome stories, or more emotionally manipulative commands to obedience. It is best remedied by intensifying peoples’ passion for Christ.” So often I try to engage people in the mission by sharing the need and appealing to their sense of duty, which makes sense. The need is great, and the workers are few, tired, and easily distracted. While presenting statistics and stories often results in increased giving or additional attention, it does not address the root of the mission integration problem. People live out their calling to advance God’s Kingdom when they fall more in love with Jesus.

After Jesus had been raised from the dead, he appeared to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee while they were fishing. They toiled all night and caught nothing until Jesus instructed them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. Then, their nets were full to breaking. When Peter saw it was the Lord on the shore, he jumped out of the boat in his excitement and swam to meet his Master. After Jesus ate breakfast with his disciples he shared a moment of reinstatement with Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter the same question: “Do you love me?” Seared by the reminder of his three denials, each time Peter cries out, “Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus then called his disciple to feed his sheep. Before action, love.

Several years ago, I stood in that same place by the Sea of Galilee. Our guide told us to pick up a stone from the shoreline to hold in our hand as this passage from John chapter 21 was read to our group. Holding our rocks in our hands, we were asked to put ourselves in Peter’s sandals. Imagine looking Jesus in the eye. How would you respond to his question: “Do you love me?” As we held a piece of this scene in our hands, we were encouraged to think about what might be keeping us from loving our Lord the way we should. Spend time praying that the Lord would remove any obstacles and then throw your stone into the sea. Whoever is without impediments can keep the last stone.

Do you love Jesus? Feed his sheep.